Honda is about to bring in the all-new Amaze on 16th May. In its previous iteration, the compact sedan has been among the fast selling cars for the brand and this new-gen version is all set to assume the mantle. We recently got up close and personal with the all-new Amaze, here are some things that you need to know about the car.
1.) Diesel CVT: In this new Amaze, Honda has paired a CVT with its 1.5-litre diesel motor. While the Amaze produces 99bhp and 200Nm in the manual transmission variants, this CVT makes just 79bhp and 160Nm. Although it is lower on power than the manual in terms of drive feel, the Amaze doesn't feel lacking. The rubber band effect is barely felt and the gearbox finds the right ratios seamlessly. Performance is adequate too. One of the highlights of this new-gen Amaze is that it is the only diesel compact sedan to be offered with a CVT - the only other cars to come with a two-pedal setup is the Maruti Suzuki DZire, which is an AMT and the Volkswagen Ameo with its DSG box.
2.) Developed as a sedan: There's a huge market for compact sedans in India and it is really interesting to see Honda recognise the Amaze as an independent product - the first-gen model was developed from the Brio hatch. This has allowed them to take a holistic approach and thereby focus on trivial aspects like space and comfort. The new Amaze has a 65mm longer wheelbase which reflects well in terms of rear leg and knees room. Honda has also reworked the front seats of the new Amaze and it feels a lot more comfortable than before.
3.) New Platform: This new Honda Amaze is based on an all-new platform. This lightweight chassis has helped Honda shed 17kg from the petrol-engined Amaze and 23kg from the diesel iteration. Of course, the reduction in weight has also led to improved fuel efficiency - 19.5kmpl and 19kmpl for the petrol manual and petrol CVT respectively. The diesel, on the other hand, returns an ARAI claimed 27.4kmpl and 23.8kmpl for the manual and CVT versions. Aside from all of this, Honda has also managed to increase the boot space of the new Amaze by 20 litres. Honda has also beefed up the chassis to ensure that it meets the new regulations that will come into force in October next year. Apart from stronger crumple zones, the Amaze will also get equipment like the ABS, EBD, and airbags as standard.
4.) Same engines: Honda has retained the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options for the new Amaze. The petrol makes 89bhp and 110Nm - same as before. The diesel will be offered in two trims - with the 99bhp/200Nm manual transmission and 79bhp/160Nm CVT option. Honda says that they have worked towards improving the NVH of the diesel-engined Amaze. While noise inside the cabin is surely lesser than before, the diesel thrum is still somewhat audible.
5.) Launch, price, variants, and competition: Honda will introduce new Amaze in the Indian market on 16th May. We expect it to carry a starting price of about Rs 5.75 lakh for the base petrol trim and about Rs 9 lakh for the top-spec diesel. Just like the current model, the Amaze will be offered in 4 variants - E, S, V and VX. The top-end VX variants will only be on offer with a manual transmission. We expect the CVTs to go on sale in the mid-spec V trim. Like before, the Amaze will hold its own against the Maruti Suzuki DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Zest and the Volkswagen Ameo.
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